Mechanical toy.



B. P. BAIN.

MECHANICAL TOY. APPLICATION FILED DEO.15. 191s.

. Patented 0G1].20,1914.

2 SHEET$SHEET 1.

Z9 5 G 2 i v Fl -5 INVENTOR WITNESSES W W M B. P. BEIN.

MECHANICAL TOY.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.15. 1913.

l, 1 1 3,945. Patented 001120, 1914.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

WflTNES/S ES INVENTQR I gz w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. RAIN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

MECHANICAL TOY;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

Application filed December 15, 1913. Serial No. 806,778.

The object of the invention is to produce a mechanical toy of the character described which is strong and durable, which is foldable into compact form, which is automatic in operation, which may be cheaply constructed, and which, in operation, simulates a pile driver.

Other objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the device, indicating the car in full lines in itsupper position and in dotted lines in its lower position; Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3-3, Fig. 2, on a larger scale, and showing the escape mechanism for loading the car in closed position; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 44, Fig. 1, the carbeing omitted; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail views on a larger scale; and Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view showing the car.

Referring to the drawings, the device comprises a frame, consisting of an upright member 1 formed of a rod or heavy wire bent to form two parallel ways or guides 2 connected attheir upper ends by a cross bar 3 and at their lower ends terminating in studs 5. The frame also includes a diagonal member 6, formed of a narrow-flat metal strip bent into U-shape to form two parallel side arms integrally connected at their lower ends and rigidly connected intermediate their ends bv a cross brace 7. Two spreading arms 8 formed of resilient metal strips are pivctally connected at 9 to the inclined frame member 6 so that they can be folded close to said member for packin the frame compactly in knock-down con ition. The free ends of said arms are provided with perforations 10 to receive the studs 5 on the vertical frame member, being held in engagement therewith by their own resiliency, as shown in Fig. 2.

The cross bar 3 at the upper end of the upright l is reduced at each end to form vertically disposed narrow portions 11 which are of a thickness enabling them to be slipped into the narrow openings of key-hole slots 12' in the free ends of the side arms of the inclined frame member 6. In assem bling the-frame, the arms o-f-member 6 are applied in horizontal'position to the cross bar Sand are then turneddown to the posi tion shown in dotted'lines, Fig. 6; arms 8 being then spread apart and connected to the studs 5. In final assembled position the narrow portions of the bar 3 lie crosswise-of the narrow openings of the key-hole slots 12 and cannot escape therefrom, so that the frame is securely fastened but maybe readlly taken apart when desired.

f The side members 2 of-the upright form ways or guides for a car or elevator 13,

which may be of any suitable shape or conon a rod 18 connecting the. side members of the inclined frame 6, and the other in a suitable bracket 19 rigidly attached to the bottom of a load receptacle or chute 20, to be hereinafter described. The bail 14, in the form shown, consists of wire bent into U- shape and provided with a small open loop 21 to receive the cord or cable 16, which is provided at the car end with an enlargement, such as a knot 22, so large that it cannot be drawn through theloop, as will be readily understood. This forms a readily detachable connection between the car and the operating cable. The car is also vprovided with side projections 23. preferably formed of sheet metal and rigidly secured to thecar as by soldering, and having integral therewith U-shaped runners 24 which embrace the side members 2 of the upright frame member 1. These runners prevent the car from escaping from-said uprights and confine it to vertical movement therebetween.

The chute or receptacle 20, above referred to, is designed to carry the several loads for moving the car downwardly. It may be of any suitable form, and .as shown com rises a long trough-shaped box formed 0 thin sheet metal, portions of the side walls being punched out and bent-downwardly to form cars 25, which are connected by across rod 26 uponwhich is pivoted a U-shaped brace 27, the free ends of the arms of which are slotted and rest on the frame bar 7. The upper edges of the two side wallsof the receptacle 20 are provided .with keyhole slots 28 adapted to receive narrow portions 29 of the cross bar 3, the longer dimension of said narrow portions lying horizontal. The receptacle is lip-ended and slipped onto the cross barand is then turned down to the position shown in Fig. l, the movement being indicated in Fig. 7, being. thereby locked to the cross barl Said receptacle when connected to the frame, lies in inclined position, its bottom sloping. downwardly toward a discharge opening 30. Preferably, the side walls ,of the chute are connected by a cross brace 31, which stifi'ens and strengthens the chute, and the ends 32 of which abut the inner faces of the arms of the diagonal member 6 and prevent the chute from slipping toward either end of the bar 3.

The chute or receptacle 20 may be of any size but is preferably made large enough to carry quite a number of individual loads for the car. These loads may be ponderousbodies of any suitable type and in the present instance are shown as balls or marbles 33, although they need not necessarily be spheres. The loads are automatically admitted to the car from the chute one at a time by an escapement mechanism which, in the form shown, comprises a gate formed of two arms 34 rigidly connected to a cross shaft 35 journaled in the side walls of the receptacle and each of which is bent laterally at its lower end to form a stop 36. Shaft 35 carries an operating arm 37 which lies outside of the receptacle. Arms 37 and 34 lie on the same side of the shaft 35, so that when free, said arms fall downwardly until arm 37 strikes a stop 38 carried by the chute, in which position stops 36 obstruct this discharge opening and prevent the bodies 33 from passing therethrough.

The weight 15 is heavier than the empty car 13 so that when the car is empty it rises in the frame. The car carries an operating member 39, shown as a rigid upright arm soldered to the car and having its upper end arranged to engage the arm'37. The upward momentum of the car is sufiicient to lift the arm 37 and swing arms 34 around their pivot, releasing the first ponderous body held back' by the gate. In the upper position the stops 36 on the arms 34 engage the second load or body and hold back the entire column thereof, thereby allowing only one to-be fed at a single operation. The lower end of the receptacle is closed by a cross wall 40 which extends downwardly beyond the bottom of the chute, to form a deflector which deflects the ball or load and directs it into the car 13. The several bodies 33 are of such weight that each thereof with the car is heavier than the weight 15, so that when the car is loaded it travels downwardly in the frame, moving the operating member .39 away from the arm 37 and allowing the gate 34 to drop and trap the next individual load,

The loads or bodies are retained in the car 13 by suitable escapement mechanism designed to be, automatically operated when the car reaches its lowest position in a manner to release the load from the car. As shown, the car is equipped with a gate consisting ofa U-shaped bail or member 41, the cross member of which normally extends across and obstructs the open bottom of the car and prevents the load from dropping out. Said member is formed of a narrow strip of flat metal with the upper ends of its arms reduced and bent laterally through openings in the side walls of the car to form pivots 42 for the gate. The pivots 42 are connected by a U-shaped operating member 43 lying outside of the car and which is adapted to be contacted and swung about its pivot by a suitable stop device, shown as an arm 44 carried by a rigid part of the frame.

When the car reaches its bottom position the gate is swung to one side, thereby opening the car and allowing the load to drop out through its open bottom.

The load is discharged from the car into a receiver 45 which comprises a hollow cylindrical member riveted to a strap 46 secured to the side members 2 of the upright 1 and which forms a cross brace for stiffening the frame. Preferably, the arm 44 is secured to the strap 46 by the same rivet which secures the receiver. Said receiver 45 has an open bottom and a side 0 )ening 47 through which the loads are. discharged therefrom and is preferably provided with a deflector 48 to direct the loads laterally and prevent them from piling up in the receiver.

In operation a number of ponderous bodies, such as the balls or marbles 33, are placed in the receiver 20. The car being empty is lifted by the weight 15 and when it reaches its uppermost position the arm 39 strikes arm 37 and lifts the gate 134, allowirig the first body to drop into the car, but holding back the remaining bodies. The car now descends and releases the gate 34 which drops and allows the second body to move into position to be discharged into the car on the next upward movement thereof. As the ca; approaches its lowest position,

. the receiver.

any bodies remain in the supply chute. Receiver 45 has no bottom, so that the ponderous bodies drop out of the car clear through a hard surface, such as a table or the bare floor, the ponderous bodies produce a rapid succession of blows or knocks, which, coupled with the rapid rise and fall of the car,

continue to operate as long as bodies are supplied to-the receiving. chute. The device can be taken apart and folded into three flat pieces, so that it can be, packed very com: pactly for shipment or storage. At the same time it is rigid and strong when assembled and can readily be handled or carried from place to place without danger of injury. In fact it will stand considerable rough handling without breaking.

What I claim is Y v 1. A mechanical toy, comprising a frame, a car mounted to move vertically in said frame, a receptacle at the upper end of the frame arranged to hold a supply ofponderous bodies, and having a bottom opening lying above said car, and means arranged to release a single body from'said receptacle and permit it to drop by gravity directly into said car.

said car, and means for automatically releasing the body from the car as the car descends.

3. A mechanical toy, comprising a frame, a car mounted to move vertically in said frame, means for elevating the car, a load receptacle at the upper end of the frame provided with a bottom discharge opening 10- cated in a position to discharge the loads into the top of said car, and a gate controlling said opening and arranged to be operated by said car.

4. A mechanical toy, comprising a frame, a car mounted to move vertically in said frame, means for elevating the car, a load If the device is operated upon receptacle at the upper end of the-frame provided with a bottom discharge opening located in a position to discharge the loads into the top of said car, a gate controlling said opening and arranged to be operated by said car, and means for automatically opening "the car bottom'to release'the load' therefrom when the carreaches its bottom position. v a '5..A mechanical toy, comprising a frame, a car mounted to move vertically inv the frame and havin an open bottom, a movable gate controllmg said opening, a load re ceptacle at the upper end of the frame having a discharge opening located in a position to discharge the load into the top of said car,

agate controlling said opening and arranged to be operated by the car, and a stop at the bottom of the frame for automatically operating the car bottom as the car descends;

6. A mechanical toy, comprising a frame, a car mounted to move vertically in the frame and havin a bottom opening, a mdvable gate control ing said opening, a receptacle'at the upper end of the frame provided with a discharge opening, a movable gate controlling said opening, means whereby the car operates said rece tacle gate as it rises, and means for operating the car gate as the car descends.

7 A mechanical toy, comprising-a frame,

a car mounted-to move vertically in the frame and vhaving an open top and a bottom opening, a movable gate controlling said bottom opening, areceptacle at the upper end of the frame rovided with a discharge opening, a movable gate controlling said opening, means whereby the car operates said receptacle gate as it rises, a deflector for directing the load downwardly into the open top of the car from the receptacle, and means for operating the car gate as the car descends.

8. A mechanical toy, comprising a frame, a car mounted to move vertically in said frame, a load receptacle at the upper end of the frame, means for elevating the car, means for admitting a load to the car each time it rises, a receiver at the'bottom of the frame having a side 0 ening, means for automatically releasing t e car load when it 1 reaches its bottom position, and a deflector in said receiver for deflecting the load therefrom. v

9. A mechanical toy, comprising a frame consisting of an u right member, a base and ,an' inclined mem er foldably secured together and detachably secured to said upright, a receptacle carried by said frame, a

uaeea In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

BENJAMIN F. BAI'N.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM B. WHARTQN, GLENN H. LnREseHE. 

